Rule



l. J. ALLEN.

RULE. APPLlcArloN F|Lo1uLY19.1919. HENEwED JULY l2. 1920. 1,368,876., Patented Feb. 15, 1921..

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A @Rhine/open N i. 1. ALLEN.

RULE. APPLlcArloM FILED JULY I9. 1919. RENEwfD 1uLv12, 1920.

1,368,876. Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

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IISAIAE J'. ALLEN, 0F PORTLAND, OREGON.

RULE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

Application led July 19, 1919, Serial No. 311,909. Renewed .Tuly 12, 1920. Serial No. 395,763.

character which, in addition to employment as an ordinary rule provides means whereby the lengths, bevels and other cuts relative to the framing of a roof may be accurately ascertained in an easy manner.

Other obJects and advantages will present themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement complete, the elements constitut-` infr the saine being folded.

Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof, the folding or hinged member being extended.

Fig. 3 is a view looking toward the back of the rule proper, the slidable member 'oi'.

blade being removed.

Fig. 4L is an elevation showing the slidable member adjusted longitudinally on'the rule proper. p

Fig. 5 is an inner face view of the sliding member or blade.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view approximately i on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a detail View showing the arrangement of the blade arranged at an angle with respect to the main member or rule proper. t

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating a portion of a building in order to demonstrate th uses of the improvement.

As disclosed by the drawings, my improvement contemplates the employment of a rule proper which is designated by the numeral 10. The element 10 .will hereinafter for convenience be referred to as the main member of the device. The main member 10 for the major portion of its length is centrally provided with a slot 11 and has, at one of its ends a metallic reinforcing plateor band 12which, upon one of its faces is slitted longitudinally and transversely, and the metal bounded by the slits bent outwardly to provide angle guide lugs 13. The rule, at its opposite end has hingedly connected thereto, as at 141 a leg 15 which is of a width less than oneehalf of the width of the main member 10. The leg 15, at its outei1 end, and upon one of its faces is provided with an outstanding lug 16, and upon its opposite face with a button member 17 that is designed to be received in a socket 18 in the face of the member 10 whereby the leg is folded and held against the face of the member 10. The main member 10, upon the side thereof provided with the lugs 13, but at the opposite end from that upon which the lugs are arranged is formed with an outstanding stop element 19. The slidable member or blade is indicated by the numeral 20. This member, upon its inner face, and

inward of its edges is formed with longitu' dinally extending slots 21. These slots are cut at an oblique angle to each other and are designed to receive therein guide lugs 13. The member or blade 20 has one of its ends 22 that is designed to receive the stop 19 when the blade 2O is disposed to fully cover one .of the faces: of the main membervlO. The member or blade 20, adjacent tothe end thereof provided with the notch 22 has secured thereon a laterally extending threaded stud 23 that passes through the slot 11 in the main member 10, and this threaded element 23 is engaged by a milled nut 24:.

The blade 20, on its opposite faces, and adjacent its edges is divided into inches and fractions thereof. The blade, upon the inner face thereof has additional divisions.

thereon to indicate lengths for common rafters, indicated by the numerals 25 'and hip,V

and valley rafters which are indicated by the numerals 26. The leg 15 upon its outer,

and if desired .upon its inner face has divi- Vsions of Vinches and fractions thereof which form a continuation of the inches and subdivisions thereof inscribed upon the outer face of the main member 10, thesaid main member having both its edges upon its said outer face so inscribed. The inner face of the member 10' is provided with angle lines indicating the hip cuts for roof boards, indicated by the numerals 27, bevel cuts for jack rafters indicatedby the numerals 28, hip and valley bevels indicated by the numerals 29, common rafter ridge cuts indicated by the numerals' 31, basecuts indicated by the numerals 32, hip and valley ridge cuts and base cuts indicated by the numerals 34 and 35 respectively. In addition to this, the main member, besides the bevel inscriptions indicating the hip cuts for roof boards, bevel cuts for jack rafters and hip and bevel rafters is provided with angle marks 50 indicat ing miter cuts and a straight mark 51 Vintersecting said angle marks.

We will now'refer to the diagram illustrated in Fig.I 8 of the drawings. It will be noted that the dimensions are inscribed on the building.l It' will be seen that the building is to have a gable and a hip roof. To -getthe length of the common rafters, we loosenthethumb screw and push the sliding member or blade forward until 9 onthe'l Vupper middle space is' even withlthe end of the main member, then tighten the screw,V

and on the timber that is-to be used for the rafter measure off 12 lengthsl of the rule as extended. This willV give the exact length ofthe common rafter. lf it is desired to know the length of the rafter without measuring on the timber it will be found by addingthe standard 12 inches on the upper edge of the main member to the figures exposed on theupper edge of the siidinginem- I bei' or blade.` lnthisinstance the number reached'is` 3, and adding 12 and 3 we have 15,'which is the length of the rafter. To

get the length of the Vhip or valley rafter the sliding member is moved on the main member until 9 vin the lower middle space is even with the end of the main member. The leg 15 is then unfolded, and the measurements are obtained fora hip rafter. the hip -or valley rafters may be known by ladding the length of theA leg and the figures exposedfon the upper edge of the sliding member to the standard 12 inches on the upv per edge of the .main member.

noted'that the lower edge of the rule when. the leg is extended is practically 17 inches It is to be long and I have divided these 17 inchesinto 12equal parts to be used more especially in making'measurements .on angles of 45 degrees and on hip and valley rafters. This obviates the use of troublesome fractions. To get the cut of the rafters, loosen the nut 1 until the sliding member drops below the stop. Move the slide back until it is releasedy froinfthe-guide lugs 13. Then withl common rafter is an even 15.

The length of yrespect to the main member.

number orfigure representing the rise of the rule with the exception, of course, of the miter Vand square lines which are not numbered. It will be noted that I have used a 12 inch run and 9 inch rise for illustrating,

the reason being that in this example the When the base-is more or less than 12.` reduce the rise in feet to inches7 and divide by base in feet, and this will give theriseper foot of base. For example, base 16', rise 8', @X12/296, divided 16 gives 6, which is the angle per foot of base. The end of main member 10 is then set to 6 on theupper middle space Vof slide member 20. The screw is then tightened and we have the length of one foot. Then measure voff 16 lengths of the-ruleas extended `and we will have the length of a rafter for a 16 base and 8 rise. It is to be noted that the hypotenuse may be found when the base and vertical are given and the base may be found when the `hypotenuse and vertical aie given, Vand it is thought, from the foregoing descriptionthat the construction and use of the improvement will be perfectly apparent. i

Having thus described the invention, what is claimedas new is Y In a device for the purpose set forth, a main member having a slot for the major portion of its length, and said main member 'Y etV means therefor, and said binding means de- Y signed to serve as a pivot whereby the sliding, member may be swung angularly with 2. In a device for the purpose set forth, a main graduated membeig'a stop at one end thereof, guide lugs adjacent thev other. end thereof, a sliding member receiving the guide lugs and having a notch to engage with the stop whenA the sliding member-is in one position with respect to the main member, binding means between the main member and the sliding member, and said binding means designed to serve as a pivot tc ermit of the sliding membri imn swan angularly over the main member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ISAIAH J. ALLEN. 

